Editorial
Issue 552 9-1-2011
Translated by Song Chunling
Original Article: [Chinese]

The miracle of the Chinese economy is based on the premise that speed overrides and dilutes everything else. However, it's now time now for us to step back from the frenetic pace of "Beijing Time" and slow down, for the sake of both our dignity and happiness.

It's true that over the past year, we have indeed already begun to slow down a little. At the high cost of loss of human life, we've learned that high-speed rail's great leap forward can't guarantee the safety of all passengers. Hit with inflation, we had to slam on the emergency brake to cool down the burning economy. The speed at which the price of agricultural products fell actually exceeded their rapid rise. The regions that once sprinted ahead in the economic race, have already been slowed by the difficulties associated with a transformation of the economic system. Our lands are overburdened and it's difficult to do anything about the worsening environment. We find that everything that we were once proud of has turned into a burden and even if we simply want to maintain the existing conditions, we'll be required to pay a higher price.

We really have slowed, but we're still a little worried and unsure. We're not used to this slower pace, and we are even prepared to step on the gas at any time. We are worried that if China does slow down, perhaps it will no longer be able to deal with the additional 10 million people who join the workforce every year - this has been the main reason why China had tried to make sure that its GDP grew by at least 8 percent over recent years. We are also worried that if the accumulation of wealth also slows, governments won't be able to collect as much revenue and thus won't be able to meet the ever-expanding needs of the people. As we enter the period of political transition, we are also worried if we can evaluate officials according to the pace of growth, will we stil be able to judge the abilities of those making the decisions.

We have been relying excessively on speed and lack the courage to slow down. We believe that speed is the key to our success. Furthermore, since we're able to mobilize resources on a scale that most other economies can only dream of, we always believe that we can go a little faster. In the name of the nation, we have made the decision for each individual, arguing that it conforms to the interest of most people - what we regard as the advantage of our system, going so far as to believe that we've created a "China Model."

In fact, the very things that we are worried about sacrificing if we slow down are the very ones that we put at risk by going to fast, for example the restructuring of the economy, or people’s happiness and dignity. these are the very things that we put at risk by going to fast. From 1998 to 2008, we never stopped hearing warnings about how unsustainable our blind economic growth was, but at the same time, we have not stopped this blind pursuit of growth either. In order to add heat to what might be a slowing economy, China has been trying to replace investment with consumption as the driver of economic development, but we're still struggling to find a way to stop people from worrying about their future.

We lack the courage to slow down, since we lack respect for the happiness and dignity of individuals. Of course we can slow down, because slowing down isn't the same as stopping completely or entering a period of economic stagnation. Though happiness and dignity require the support of economic development, they can't be achieved only through economic growth. We cannot buy dignity, nor can we purchase happiness. If officials can truly listen to the people and respect all their rights and if they can create the conditions so that people really are capable of supervising the government, people are more likely to feel much happier.

We should slow down. The courage to slow down comes from showing as much respect for the hopes and dreams of each individual as for the grand outlook for the nation, it also comes from the future responsible spirit of this nation. With this courage, we can overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of the coming transformation.

Being slow may be hard for those who have been used to traveling at high speeds. To a great extent, our future direction rests on our ability to make all the people of our nation's citizens share a common view of the difficulties that we face. If we can't reach a consensus and unite together, this will mean we're giving up.  

Now is already the time to make a choice. Even if we don't make a choice ourselves, history will make a choice for us. If our generation can't bear to slow down, the next generations will likely have to suffer from an even slower and unbearable era. The politicians, scholars and even ordinary people of every era have to take responsibility for their own lives - this is the responsibility of this generation to this nation.

This article was edited by Paul Pennay